Stalingrad: War on The Eastern Front Quiz

Answer: soldiers who shot 'cowards'

The Red Army used barrier troops to shoot 'cowards' who retreated from a fight without orders. Most commanders believed this had a negative effect on morale.

Answer: not a step back!

Joseph Stalin's Order Number 227 said, 'ni shagu nazad! - 'not a step back'. This draconian order did not allow flexibility on the battlefield and led to entire Red Army formations being encircled or annihilated.

Answer: by maintaining close contact

The Red Army was able to neutralize the blitzkrieg tactics inside Stalingrad by maintaining close contact with the German infantry. The Germans were unable to use their air power, artillery and debris blocked the armour. This made the battle a primitive street fight where the machine pistol and grenade were the most valuable weapons.

Answer: Mamayev Hill

Mamayev Hill was the vital height inside Stalingrad that is marked as Hill 102. The hill was the scene of intense fighting and changed hands several times.

Answer: Pavlov's House

The four story building at 9th January Square was and is still known as Pavlov's House. Sergeant Yakov Pavlov and a platoon held that building for over two months against countless German assaults until relieved by other Russian forces.

Answer: Vasili Zaitsev

Vasili Zaitzev was the most famous sniper operating inside Stalingrad. Zaitzev is credited with 225 confirmed kills during the battle.

Answer: the Romanian 3rd Army

When Operation Uranus was launched on 19th November, 1942 the Red Army attacked the Romanian 3rd Army first. Knowing the Romanians lacked anti-tank weapons or armour, the Red Army easily tore a gap into the flank of the Army Group.

Answer: in the Demyansk Pocket

German troops trapped in the Demyansk Pocket were successfully supplied by air after the Moscow Offensives. There were some huge differences; only an entire corps needed resupply and that trapped corps intended to break out of that pocket. At Stalingrad an entire army was surrounded that was told to hold and the Red Air Force was now a force to be reckoned with.

Answer: Von Manstein

Erich von Manstein was given the task of trying to relieve the encircled 6th Army. He launched Operation Winter Storm in an effort to force a corridor to free the trapped 6th Army. The plan would have worked if Paulus had launched an offensive to meet him.

Answer: promote him

The final thing Hitler did for Paulus was promote him to field marshal. This was done because no German field marshal had ever surrendered his army or allowed himself to be taken alive.